The Technology for All Rural Texas and San Antonio office at 111 Main St. has been providing the community with free access to the Internet since its grand opening in November.

Among their programs, they offer free one-on-one computer training at the rec center every Monday and Wednesday using different computer programs.

There are also “Point and Shoot” classes hosted by the Smithville Public Library and taught by local photographer and artist Jerry Bies.

“The purpose of the class is to expand your knowledge of the cameras usage beyond the ‘auto’ function and to be familiar with its functions to their full capacity,” Bies explained.

The class was initially scheduled to be two, two-hour sessions, but was extended because of the demand and participation in the class.

“Assignments are given to encourage members to step outside of their comfort zone in the use of their cameras,” Bies said. “Upon the return to class, the photos from the assignments are displayed on a projector and critiqued.”

There are a wide range of inexpensive point-and-shoot cameras available that allow amateur photographers to take a variety of great photos, Bies pointed out.

According to Bies, these cameras are miniature computers, capable of handling a wide selection of modes and functions that are being added with each succeeding generation.

Computers allow the digital encoding of photographs to edit pictures immediately after taking them, in comparison to the post production formerly needed in a darkroom.

Then these photos can be instantaneously shared via the Internet, using free online applications.

“Another interesting side benefit noticed is that individuals are initially apprehensive when faced with computers,” Bies said. “But these simple devices provide a non-threatening sequel into other digital technologies because they offer instantly gratifying feedback.”

According to Bies some of his students did not even know how to focus a camera, but now their photos are seen as true art.

The photos that the students have taken are on display at the Technology for All office on 111 Main Street and can be purchased for a very reasonable price.

“It’s been great partnering with local artists to exhibit their work and also draw interest to our office,” said John Dees, the training and outreach director at Technology for All.

Anyone is welcome to join and there are no monthly dues and attendance is voluntary.

“These classes have been a great success,” Bies said. “I am very proud of my students’ work.”

The upcoming “Point and Shoot” classes are expected to be sometime in February. If you are interested in joining, stop by the office or call Bies at 237-1237 for more information.

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The church, at SW 4th and 400 Walker St., has been a landmark in the community since its founding on June 23, 1900 when the trustees of the Missionary Baptist Church purchased the property from E.H. Eagleston. The church received its name from Deacon Jordan White.

The first church building was under the direction of Pastor Rev. L. W. Mackey and “under the hands of the deacons, Brother L. Weston, Brother William Hall and Brother J.R. Price,” according to the church’s historical records. Construction costs for the building were $75.

In September the church welcomed Pastor Ronnie Holt, Jr. and his wife Lenora, who is also a minister. Ronnie, a native of Memphis has served the ministry for more than 20 years, ever since his first sermon at the age of 16. The couple has two children and one grandchild.

“I am so elated to be part of something so great. I tell my members it has been an honor to be part of this rich history,” Holt said.

Unique Perspective

For Municipal Court Judge Ronald Jones, the church is steeped in family history. He’s been attending the church since he was born and he’s also related to Brother H.K. Price, an original deacon. Jones grandmother, Sylvia Price, was church secretary for 40 years and his grandfather, Willie Price, was deacon for many years. Jones was baptized in the church when he was 11 years old and currently serves as a deacon and chairman of the board.

“My mother, Ada Jones, was born up and raised in the church,” Jones said. “She was the pianist for 50 years.”

Jones said the early congregation held many fundraisers and in 1914 they erected a new church building. Today, when visitors enter the sanctuary under the bell tower, they are greeted by theater-style seating that arcs around the interior of the building in a bowl shape, which creates a unique perspective on the pulpit.

This vantage point for churchgoers comes from the foundation, Jones said and it was created when builders used handcrafted brick columns, which were stacked and shaved at an angle and then framed with 4×6 inch lumber. This technique created a sloped floor that gives everyone in the congregation a clear view of the pulpit.

Into the 21st Century

“I feel God has something in store for the community and he’s going to do it through us,” Holt said when asked about where the historic church is headed. “We embrace the future of the church as it evolves in a new era and a new society and we will move with it.”

Holt said the church was on the verge of moving forward with ambitious plans for a child and youth ministry, which will launch in the next few months. Holt said the church had plans for a computer lab and was excited about using the tools and software that children grow up with to teach them about “The Bible and the Word of God.”

“We wish to capture the hearts and minds of our youth, to show them that there is relevance here that will not be compromised as we move into the 21st century,” Holt said.

The church also has plans to work with the school system to reach the youth of the community.

“We want everyone to have a successful life,” Holt said. “I want to reach out and share a vision for a good and prosperous life.”

Holt said the church’s vision was big, and included taking youth to places they had never been, including missions in Barbados and the Philippines and to historical places like Washington D.C. and the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis.

“We want them to see how different life is around the world and how much opportunity they have here at home,” Holt said.

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“Two years ago we hosted our first basketball game and had a highly successful fundraiser.  The more money we raise, the more money goes directly to the Smithville High School scholarship program,” said Debbie Roberson, the Lions event chairperson. “Also this year, we are setting aside proceeds to be awarded to high school students who were victims of the Bastrop fires.”

Michael Murphy is acting as coach again this year and working with the Noon Lions Club members, some exciting talent from Smithville has been lined up, including high school basketball coach Cyril Adkins, Bastrop County Judge Ronnie McDonald, Smithville councilman Cha Chi Rodriguez, parks and rec director Andis Goble, police officer Greg Stewart and artist and actor Sam Blasco. Rounding out the team of locals, several of whom are high school basketball standouts, are Ricky Stockton, Jonathan McNutt, Orin Moore, Craig Oliver and Megan Rogers.

“It’s a great opportunity for the community to see this level of entertainment,” said Roberson. “We had a fantastic time last year with a capacity crowd at the SHS gym.  All the fans enjoyed watching the game, which is a mixture of fast-paced, dazzling basketball, plus slower paced comedy routines.”

Roberson said the Ambassadors bring more than non-stop laughs and a show of basketball expertise.

“The Ambassadors bring a positive message for kids,” Roberson said. “They tell children to stay in school and stay off drugs. Every player on the team has a college degree and they are all drug tested.”

Last year the Ambassadors made sure the kids in the audience were a big part of the show. They were invited to sit on the bench and enjoy a front row seat for the action.

“In 2010 when we held our first game, we were all quite excited to meet these outstanding individuals and players. The players stay after the game and are willing to sign autographs for everyone who is interested,” Roberson said.

Tickets are available for purchase at all three Main Street banks, the Smithville chamber of commerce and the Smithville High School front office.  Advance purchase tickets are $5 for students and seniors, $7 for adults; tickets at the door on game day are $7 for students and seniors, $9 for adults.  Children under 2 years of age get in free. A limited number of “Center Court” tickets are available at the chamber of commerce for $25 each.

The goal of this program is to develop well-informed volunteers who provide education, outreach and service dedicated to the beneficial management of the natural resources in the community.

“Our chapter serves primarily Bastrop and Caldwell counties,” extension agent Rachel Bauer said. “In the Master Naturalist program, you will enhance your love of nature with research-based, scientific knowledge. You will learn about the plants, animals and natural history of Central Texas, meet other people who enjoy nature, find out how to attract wildlife to your property and share your knowledge through volunteer activities in our communities.”

The class includes more than 40 hours of intensive classroom and field based instruction – with an emphasis on local ecosystems – conducted by experts.

Training begins with an orientation class on Feb. 6 and ends with graduation on May 21. Casses are Mondays, 6:30-9 p.m. (two or three times a month). There are also five Saturday morning field trips planned.

A preliminary class schedule and application forms are available at the chapter website http://www.lostpinesmasternaturalist.org.

Return completed applications by Jan. 23 to the Bastrop County Extension Office at 901 Pecan Street in Bastrop or the Caldwell County Extension office at 1403B Blackjack Street in Lockhart.

Electronically-completed applications may be returned by e-mail to abutler@mac.com and the fee of $85 may be brought to the orientation class.

This fee includes a binder containing a comprehensive Texas Master Naturalist Curriculum and other resources and dues for first year membership in the Lost Pines Chapter.

For more information, contact (512) 581-7186.

By Steve Taylor
Special Correspondent

Dr. Guillermo Sanchez retired yesterday, Jan. 4, from Seton’s Smithville Medical Clinic, leaving behind quite a legacy: nearly 30 years of service to local patients and families; instrumental in the planning, construction, operation and oversight of what is now Seton Smithville Regional Hospital; and Smithville’s “Citizen of the Year” in 1986 (co-citizen, actually, along with his clinic partner at that time, Dr. Ravi Palchuri).

But he’s not leaving. In fact, he’s just moving downtown, directly across the street from city hall.

A Mexico City native who started practicing medicine in Regina, capital of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan, Dr. Sanchez said, “Smithville has been great to me. It is the perfect place to be. It is the most beautiful little city.”

In 1982, Dr. Sanchez already was married to his wife Frances and the father of two when a recruiter contacted him in Canada. Smithville, which had only two doctors at the time, was seeking a new physician because one of those doctors had passed away. He arrived in the quaint community southeast of Austin by the middle of that same year.

After about a decade of earning patients’ trust and developing deep relationships within his new hometown, Dr. Sanchez was among those who recognized that Smithville’s existing hospital, while good, was too small to meet growing medical needs. That led him to help lead the effort to erect what is now Seton Smithville Regional Hospital, a Level II trauma facility that is Bastrop County’s only hospital.

Dr. Sanchez was a physician member of Smithville’s hospital board of directors when ground was broken on the new facility on April 10, 1994. The hospital opened Sept. 15, 1995 – a date the he can’t forget because Sept. 15 is Mexico’s Independence Day.

“Dr. Sanchez is a well-respected medical professional who has provided care and compassion to many. And as my personal physician, he has diagnosed, treated and provided consummate care and comfort to my family,” said Smithville City Council member Robert Tamble.

Tamble’s wife Sheila, a local real estate agent and business leader, noted that Dr. Sanchez also counseled their son Mathew and other Smithville students to pursue medical careers. Mathew Tamble currently is completing his second year in medical school.

“I’ve been present during many of these conversations and always found Dr. Sanchez’s wisdom and advice to be very beneficial. I find it admirable that Dr. Sanchez has the ability to speak frankly while, at the same time, inspiring students to push forward and not give up,” she said.

Sheila noted that Dr. Sanchez also keeps track of young people as they progress in their medical studies and encourages them along the way.

Among those who have heeded his guidance is Dr. Sanchez’s own son. Dr. Guillermo Sanchez Jr. is an oncology researcher in Houston. He is equally proud of his daughter Dana, who is a scene artist with the Texas Film Commission in Austin.

And now, he and Frances are downsizing. They’ve sold the spacious family home with the big yard and swimming pool in Smithville and are moving into an efficiency apartment, behind two commercial spaces fronting the town’s Main Street that they also own. They plan to rent the spaces to businesses that “fit the character” of downtown Smithville. He recently told the Smithville Times, “I will not be moving my office there, but certainly it’s a nice space for an office.

“It’s going to be small, but it’s only the two of us. For me and Frances, it will be easy to clean, easy to live in, no pool, no grass. I will be able to go where I need to go by walking,” he said.

But after nearly 30 years of serving local patients, can he really “retire”? Might he still practice a little medicine? Perhaps fill in for physician colleagues on vacation? Or help out occasionally, if asked, at the Smithville hospital he helped become reality?

“I wouldn’t be surprised,” he said with a smile.

Steve Taylor is communications specialist for Seton Healthcare Family

The documentary shows how today’s media miss represents women and sends a message that a women’s influence and power relies on beauty, sexuality, and youth rather than her actual skills as a leader. This has lead to a misrepresentation of real women in positions in power or influence. You can view the trailer and find out more about the film at  http://missrepresentation.org/the-film/. This kind of alike thinking has influenced beautiful and talented young women at school to not have confidence or a high self-esteem.

In between the showings of the film, a women’s fair where we bring together different social organizations that service women and their needs in an attempt to allow the viewers to become active in women’s issues. The students have requested that the Bastrop, Elgin and Smithville communities get involved and become part of the event. For more information, contact Pili Garcia at pilichula12@gmail.com.

We welcome discussion on our stories but we will only publish comments that do not violate our Comment Guidelines.

We welcome discussion on our stories but we will only publish comments that do not violate our Comment Guidelines.

Volunteers will be able to participate in at least two projects: spreading mulch around Houston toad ponds and installing straw logs or wattles on hillsides. Both of these projects are important steps in the land’s recovery.

“As much as we need rain, too much at one time could prove to be catastrophic,” park superintendent Todd McClanahan said. “The sooner we can get these erosion control devices in place, the better off we will be in regards to potential erosion.”

Without plants and their roots to hold onto the soil, the ground is unstable and can wash away easily. It is only when the erosion is under control that the park can begin to plant trees – probably beginning in 2013 – to replace those lost in the wildfire.

“Volunteers provide the park with a valuable work force,” park interpreter and volunteer coordinator Katie Raney said. “They have the unique opportunity to be closely involved with Bastrop State Park’s recovery.”

The erosion control projects are easy to moderate difficulty, and may involve bending, carrying buckets of mulch and walking long distances.

Volunteers should plan to wear long pants, closed-toed shoes and long-sleeved shirts. They should also bring gloves, but hard hats will be provided.

The erosion control workdays will take place on the following Saturdays:  Dec. 10, Jan. 14, Jan. 28 and Feb. 11 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Reservations are required by 5 p.m. on the Friday before the workday. Contact Katie Raney at 512-718-0211 or by email at katie.raney@tpwd.state.tx.us.

Restoring the park’s historic Lost Pines will be a long process, and volunteers can be involved on many steps along the way.  Bastrop State Park is also soliciting donations for these projects, including erosion control.

If you are interested in donating to this cause, visit Bastrop State Park’s website at http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/parks/bastrop/ or the Friends of Lost Pines State Parks website at http://www.friendsoflostpines.org/.

Donations and these work days are the first of many opportunities for the public to be involved in the park’s recovery efforts.

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